A flasher who targeted a pair of girls just two days after his release from prison has had his sentence cut.

A flasher who targeted a pair of girls just two days after his release from prison has had his sentence cut.

Michael Croney, 36, of Consett, Co Durham, was jailed for four years at Newcastle Crown Court last August after pleading guilty to a charge of gross indecency.

He was also found in breach of a three-year community rehabilitation order, which had been imposed following his release from prison in February last year for a string of similar offences.

Within 48 hours of his release Croney had `exposed' himself to two 12-year-old girls who were waiting at a Newcastle bus stop. He then got in his car and drove off.

The former miner had previously committed lewd acts in front of 17 terrified youngsters while wearing his ex-wife's underwear. He would drive around Guildford in Surrey, where he had moved looking for a job, and would park and mouth obscenities at young girls while dressed in a variety of outfits.

Justice Cox ruled that four years was "manifestly excessive" and there was "no evidence" that Croney would go on to carry out "contact offences" when he was released from jail. Croney was caught after one victim wrote down his registration number. He told officers he was lonely after splitting with his wife and wore the clothing to remind himself of their relationship.